Pitt’s defensive ends coach John Palermo covets long and athletic defensive ends. Although head coach Paul Chryst and staff has added 50 players in two years to Pitt’s roster, defensive end remains a relatively thin position for the Panthers. One of the first players to be targeted by Palermo is Potomac (MD) Bullis School Jonathan Holland (6-foot-5 inches, 235 pounds).
“I just returned from a visit with my parents to Wake Forest. They offered me on the visit,” stated Holland. Jonathan officially has received scholarship offers from Pitt, Penn State, Wake Forest, Illinois, UNC-Charlotte, Boston College and West Virginia.
A lengthy 6-foot-5 inches tall, Holland is very proficient at getting to the quarterback. He has been a two-year varsity starter, anchoring a defensive line that led the Bullis School to a 9-1 record and ICAC title. Jonathan is capable of running a 4.7 forty-yard dash. Qualifying won’t be an issue. He has a phenomenal 4.0 GPA.
Holland was asked about his strengths at the defensive end position and he stated, “I’m very fast for my size. I have a quick first step and my height and length is a big asset. I can cause disruption in the backfield and force lost yards.”
“Depending on the situation, I can adapt. I can get past an offensive tackle with my speed for a sack. My height is great because I can bat down balls. I will do whatever it takes to help my team. I’m a team player and I want to win.”
Holland is no stranger to Pitt. He has visited three times. “I went to the Notre Dame and Old Dominion games last season. I attended Pitt’s junior day as well.”
“I love Pittsburgh. Pitt is at the top of my list,” he said. “They offer a lot of playing time and it’s and up and coming program. They had a lot of freshmen players play last season. I like that they want good players and good people. They want you to do well both on and off the field.”
Holland’s multiple visits had led to a bond with a number of freshman Panthers. “I already knew Rachid Ibrahim. I got to spend time with James Conner, Tyler Boyd, Terrish Webb and a few other players. They’re a great group of guys.”
Penn State was the most recent school to offer a scholarship to Jonathan. For quite some time, he was considered a ‘Penn State lock’. When asked if it was inevitable that he would end up playing in Happy Valley, he replied, “I’m very open and Pitt is very much in the picture.”
“I plan on making my decision before the start of the season. I’ll sit down with my parents and review all of my offers. I want to make a decision before the season so I can end the process and enjoy my senior season.”